Red Bull Air Race World Championship

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is a series of air races. The aim is to depart as soon as possible an inserted with inflatable air gates course and thereby perform the required maneuvers correctly. The single-engine propeller aircraft used to make about 350 hp ( about 260 kW) and reach speeds of up to 400 km / h The acceleration forces in tight turns of 10 to very briefly require 12 g of the pilot in addition to high concentration and aeronautical precision and a high exercise capacity.

The last time being competitive this series took place at the Euro Speedway Lausitz in August 2010; the organizer of the Red Bull confirmed after a three year hiatus, the return of the Air Race for February 28, 2014. A total of 2014 eight races are flown.

• 4.1 2005 racing season
• 4.2 2006 racing season
• 4.3 2007 racing season
• 4.4 2008 racing season
• 4.5 2009 racing season
• 4.6 2010 racing season
• 4.7 2011-2013 no racing seasons

History

Launched by the energy drink producer Red Bull Air Racing is a comparatively new discipline of aviation sports. Since the year 2003, the best pilots in the world measured annually at several air races. In contrast to the American Air Races such as the Reno Air Races, high-speed racing with high-powered machines from the time of the Second World War, more flying skill and precision are required at the Red Bull Air Race. The company Red Bull came in 2001 with the concept of the Air Races at the Hungarian stunt pilot Péter Besenyei zoom. Péter Besenyei was enthusiastic about the idea and tested together with the German aerobatic pilot Klaus Schrodt developed for the Air Race pylons on their security by flying through the gates in various attitudes. After two years of development, the first race was nothing in the way. Since 2005, the Red Bull Air Race is an official competition series, which will take place around the globe. At the Races only the most experienced pilots are allowed to participate. Klaus Schrodt was until 2007 the process of Péter Besenyei will still participate in the race.

Competition

Regulate

The objective of the Air Races is to depart as soon as possible an inserted with inflatable air gates course and thereby perform the required maneuvers correctly. Air Gates are 20 meter high pylons that are placed to each other in a distance of 10 to 14 meters. The counterparties to start immediately after the other. For the touch of pylons and for errors in the maneuvers of penalties is, or deducted points. To avoid accidents, the exact observance of the rules and the observance of high standards of safety are required.

Scoring

The first day is a qualifying place in two passes. The better flight will be scored, the best ten drivers automatically qualify for the other runs on race day. The winner of the World Cup qualifying gets a point since 2009.

On race day the non -skilled fly first in the wild card session to the last two places for the Top 12 Wildcard Session defines the spaces 13-15. In the next round on race day, Top 12, rising the fastest eight pilots in the next round on called Super 8. Places 9-12 will be determined during the Top 12 round. In the race of Super 8 places will be five to eight determined. The four fastest climb to the Final 4. The fastest pilot in the Final 4 round is the winner of the race.

The winner of the competition receives a single twelve points, the second ten points, the third nine points and so on until the eleventh, who gets one point. The pilot with the most points at the end of the season is the official Red Bull Air Race World Champion.

Time penalties

The course must be completely served by the pilot. The goals are to happen in the prescribed direction. Time penalties are given for incorrect passing through a gate or harassment, improper for executing a maneuver or for touching a gate. This time penalties are added at the end of the round at the time of the pilot.

A two -second penalty for incorrect passing of an Air Gate awarded when a pilot

• A gate or harassment happens too high,
• A vertical ( maximum deviation 20 °) or horizontal crossing ( maximum deviation 10 °) incorrectly performs
• A vertical flight on the wrong side performs. This is the case when a pilot his machine to the left turn when he should turn to the right side, or vice versa.

A six -second penalty awarded when a pilot touches a pylon with wings or propellers. If this flight classified as dangerous in addition, this may also be punished with a disqualification.

Disqualification

Severe rule violations have a disqualification. These include in particular:

• Any form of dangerous flying
• Dangerous approach
• To fly low
• Crossing the line visitors

Since 2009, may further neither the entry speed of 370 km / h or the transverse acceleration of 12 g, even if only for a split second, be exceeded.

Aircraft

While at the beginning of the competition series, four different types of aircraft were about equally represented, among other aircraft of the type Sukhoi Su -26, the choice of most pilots 540 10 falls now on the Zivko Edge In the current field of 15 pilots flying an Edge 540, the rest of the field is flying an MXS -R. The planes have a power 300-370 hp ( about 220 to 280 kW ).

The Zivko Edge 540, and the extra set up for the 2008 season 300 and cap 232 are equipped with a Lycoming IO -540 (I: injection ( injection), O: Opposed engine or opposing cylinders ( boxer ) ) which provides an air-cooled 4 - stroke boxer engine of the same U.S. manufacturer, whose original version was designed in 1957 and has since produced nearly unchanged. The six-cylinder with a bore of 130.2 mm and a stroke of 111.1 mm has a displacement of 540 in ³, which corresponds to 8,850 cc. The performance is depending on the model between 300 and 350 PS (about 220 to 250 kW) at about 2700 min -1.

The weight of the single-seat aircraft is only about 700 kg two-seater MX2 weighs 840 kg ready to fly. The wingspan is about 8 m and a length of 6 to 7 m. The roll rate, ie the ability to quickly turn around the longitudinal axis is 420 ° / s The machines rise close to the ground with more than 1100 m / min and are positive and designed 10 g negative impact on long-term forces of acceleration of 10 g.

In July 2007, came into the race with the Extra 300SR, a new type of aircraft, which was developed specifically for the Red Bull Air Race. The special feature of this aircraft is the asymmetrically shaped airfoil through which the curves can be flown even closer. The Frenchman Nicolas Ivanoff flying since the race in Interlaken 2007 Extra 300SR and won superior to the final race in Perth with this machine.

Racing series

2005 racing season

The Red Bull Air Race World Series was in 2005 at the start. There were seven races on the schedule: Abu Dhabi ( UAE), Rotterdam ( NL), Zeltweg (AUT ), Rock of Cashel (IRE ), Longleat (UK ), Budapest ( HUN) and San Francisco (USA).

Winner of the Red Bull Air Race World Series 2005:

Race

2006 racing season

In 2006, the Air Race World Series was played at eight venues held: Abu Dhabi ( UAE), Barcelona ( ESP ), Berlin ( GER), Istanbul ( TUR ), Budapest ( HUN), Longleat (UK ), San Francisco ( USA) and Perth (OFF). St Petersburg ( RUS) has been canceled.

Winner of the Red Bull Air Race World Series 2006:

Race

2007 racing season

After a successful 2006 season, the 2007 series has been considerably extended and should now include a total of 12 races, of which, however, the two were canceled in Barcelona and Acapulco. The venues in Europe were Istanbul, Interlaken, London, Budapest and Porto.

Red Bull had 2007 Nuremberg requested, the Air Race unsubscribe on the former Nazi party rally grounds. Setting should be the great Zeppelin tribune. This plan was rejected, however, of the city of Nuremberg after long discussions, as the area among others located within residential areas.

Winner of the Red Bull Air Race 2007:

Race

2008 racing season

Between April and November 2008, eight races were held. The stations were Abu Dhabi ( United Arab Emirates ), San Diego, Detroit ( both U.S.), Rotterdam (Netherlands ), London ( UK ), Budapest ( Hungary), Porto ( Portugal) and Perth ( Australia). Stockholm ( Sweden) has been canceled.

Final standings after 8 races:

Air Race pilots 2008:

• Hannes Arch ( Austria Austria )
• Peter Besenyei (Hungary Hungary)
• Paul Bonhomme (United Kingdom United Kingdom)
• Kirby Chambliss ( USA United States)
• Glen Dell ( South Africa South Africa)
• Michael Goulian ( USA United States)
• Nicolas Ivanoff ( France )
• Steve Jones (United Kingdom United Kingdom)
• Nigel Lamb (United Kingdom United Kingdom)
• Alejandro Maclean ( Spain )
• Mike Mangold ( USA United States)
• Sergei Rachmanin (Russia Russia)

Race

2009 racing season

On 18 April, the season opener was held in Abu Dhabi ( United Arab Emirates) with the race. Winner of the race was Hannes Arch ( Austria Austria ). Racing in San Diego ( USA) on May 10 won Nicolas Ivanoff ( France ). The third race on June 14 in Windsor Ontario (Canada) won Paul Bonhomme. The fourth race in Budapest ( Hungary) won Michael Goulian ( USA United States). The fifth (13th September in Porto, Portugal ), and the sixth and final race of the 2009 season (October 4, Barcelona, Spain) was again Paul Bonhomme decide for themselves, which thus also the overall winner was.

Final standings after six races:

Race

2010 racing season

Pilots

Race

2011 - 2013 no race Seasons

Red Bull said from the 2011 season to push the technological development to increase safety standards and thus to be able to offer a more attractive 2012 Red Bull Air Race. In November 2011, Red Bull announced that the re-entry is planned for 2013. In July 2012, there was another piece of information that you are working on a recovery in 2014

Racing season 2014

The racing season 2014 is to be conducted with eight races.

Air Race pilots 2014:

• Hannes Arch ( Austria Austria )
• Peter Besenyei (Hungary Hungary)
• Paul Bonhomme (United Kingdom United Kingdom)
• Kirby Chambliss ( USA United States)
• Matthias DOL ( Germany Germany )
• Michael Goulian ( USA United States)
• Matt Hall ( Australia )
• Nicolas Ivanoff ( France )
• Nigel Lamb (United Kingdom United Kingdom)
• Pete McLeod ( Canada Canada )
• Muroya Yoshihide (Japan Japan)
• Martin Šonka (Czech Republic Czech Republic)

Race

All Ranking

Criticism

Collisions of aircraft with the pylons are found in every race and mostly remain without consequences. In one such incident in Monument Valley on 12 May 2007, however, there was damage to the machine and rubble of the pylon got caught in the rudder of the aircraft. Although the pilot was able to land unharmed, but this incident has made ​​for pilots and aircraft owners to discuss the safety of the race.

Before the Red Bull Air Race came on July 14th and 15th 2007 in Interlaken, Switzerland in a public debate on the environmental impact of the event. Critics called the Air Race as polluting and noisy promotional event.

Accidents

On 15 April 2010 there was the first crash of a participant. During training, the Air Race in Perth, the Brazilian pilot Adilson Kindle man lost control of his plane and crashed into the Swan River. He was rescued within minutes from the water and survived the crash with minor injuries. A near- crash experienced Matt Hall in Windsor qualification in 2010. Passed the 13 Hall Gate, when he suddenly lost altitude and touched down briefly on the water. He could, however, continue to fly and land safely, but was due to hazardous flying ( "Dangerous Fly" ) disqualified.